DLNA – Gigaomhttp://gigaom.com
The industry leader in emerging technology researchMon, 16 Oct 2017 14:58:55 +0000en-UShourly1AllCast beta, like AirPlay for Android, goes live in the Play Storehttp://gigaom.com/2013/12/02/allcast-beta-like-airplay-for-android-goes-live-in-the-play-store/
http://gigaom.com/2013/12/02/allcast-beta-like-airplay-for-android-goes-live-in-the-play-store/#commentsMon, 02 Dec 2013 17:15:27 +0000http://gigaom.com/?p=720409Looking for an easy way to wirelessly stream local content from an Android(s goog) device to a connected television, video game console or even an Apple TV? Check out AllCast a beta app now available in the Google Play store: It works with Roku, Apple(s aapl) TV, Xbox(s msft) 360 and Xbox one, Samsung Smart TVs, and other devices that use DLNA.

The concept is similar however. Just find local content on your Android smartphone or tablet — think pictures or video — and hit the “cast” button. At that point, you can choose which device on your home network to view the content for playback.

Since the app is in beta status, you’ll actually have to follow these instructions to get it. Essentially, you first have to join a Google+ community before getting the download, which is a small price to pay for the functionality.

]]>http://gigaom.com/2013/12/02/allcast-beta-like-airplay-for-android-goes-live-in-the-play-store/feed/5Simple.tv announces apps for Android and Chromecast, DLNA supporthttp://gigaom.com/2013/10/07/simple-tv-announces-apps-for-android-and-chromecast-dlna-support/
Mon, 07 Oct 2013 16:39:54 +0000http://gigaom.com/?p=702222Simple.tv, the DVR for cord cutters, is working on apps for both Android (S GOOG) and Chromecast, and is looking to add DLNA support to get on even more TV screens. Simple.tv announced the forthcoming apps in an email to users this weekend, which read in part:

“Google recently released Chromecast and we’ve been working on native support that we plan to deliver once Google gives us the high-sign. We’re also a new member of DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) and are looking forward to working the DLNA devices as well. Our goal: if it plays video and connects to the Internet, we’ll be on it…”

DLNA is a widely adopted home networking standard that could enable Simple.tv to stream recordings as well as live TV streams to a PS3, Xbox360 and a number of connected TVs.

Simple.tv is selling a networked DVR that lets users record shows on a local hard drive, and then stream them to Roku devices, browsers and iPads(s aapl) within and outside of the home. The company recently announced its second-generation hardware, which is being manufactured by Silicondust. There’s no word yet on when the new hardware will go on sale, or how much it will cost.

]]>Ovo wants to take the pain out of beaming videos to your TVhttp://gigaom.com/2013/07/22/ovo-miracast-dlna-video-beaming/
http://gigaom.com/2013/07/22/ovo-miracast-dlna-video-beaming/#commentsMon, 22 Jul 2013 19:14:01 +0000http://gigaom.com/?p=670212Beaming videos from your mobile phone or your laptop to your TV is still a bit of a hassle, especially if you’re looking for an alternative to Apple’s (s AAPL) AirPlay. Taiwanese hardware startup Ovomedia now wants to make that process a bit easier, and it is turning to Indiegogo to launch the production of its new Ovo device.

Ovo is an egg-shaped companion device that connects to your TV via HDMI. The device is DLNA- and Miracast-capable, meaning that you’ll be able to mirror your mobile or PC screen and launch videos with a variety of DLNA-capable apps.

But really unique about Ovo is its queue functionality that allows you to collect videos you mean to watch on your TV throughout the day — and then simply use the device as a giant button to start playback when you’re ready to settle down on your couch at night. Take a look at the feature in this Indiegogo video:

We will have to wait and see how Ovo is going to stack up against these products, but if executed well, the company may actually have a shot. First of all, the device is reasonably inexpensive. Ovomedia says that it is going to sell for $65, but the Indiegogo campaign actually makes some available for as little as $39. This could make the Ovo a good addition to your setup if your smart TV already has Netflix, (s NFLX) but lacks the ability to interact with your mobile devices.

Ovo’s second strength may be a bit less obvious, but just as powerful: Being based in Taiwan, the company is looking to put a big emphasis on making it work with Chinese video services like PPTV. These services are not only big with millions of consumers in China, but also with expats in the U.S. and elsewhere. However, they aren’t available on Apple TV, Roku or any of the other major companion devices. A cheap, easy-to-use device that makes that content available on the TV screen may end up selling really well.

]]>http://gigaom.com/2013/07/22/ovo-miracast-dlna-video-beaming/feed/1Boxee TV gets DLNA, 3-D streaming and morehttp://gigaom.com/2013/03/27/boxee-tv-dlna/
http://gigaom.com/2013/03/27/boxee-tv-dlna/#commentsWed, 27 Mar 2013 07:01:48 +0000http://gigaom.com/?p=624700Boxee is rolling out a firmware update to its Boxee TV that brings DLNA functionality, 3-D streaming of Vudu titles, a more traditional TV guide, improved DVR scheduling and other features to the device. Owners of Boxee TV devices were notified of the update late Tuesday and told that it would be available to them within the next three days.

DLNA will enable Boxee TV owners to play files stored on their computers or network-attached storage drives, a feature that was at the core of Boxee’s original Boxee Box. Boxee TV also functions as a DLNA digital media renderer, meaning that users can beam music and videos straight from their mobile device to their Boxee TV, much in the same way as one would stream a video via Airplay to an Apple (S AAPL) TV.

Cloud DVR functionality is currently just available in a limited number of markets, and it looks like Boxee was trying to iron out some bugs and add some much-needed features before rolling it out further. One example: Boxee TV users can now schedule recordings directly on the device. Previously, users had to go to Boxee’s cloud DVR website to schedule a recording – a step that seemed overly complicated for a pretty basic feature of a DVR.

Check out my Boxee TV unboxing video below:

]]>http://gigaom.com/2013/03/27/boxee-tv-dlna/feed/2Skifta’s new iOS app brings DLNA and AirPlay togetherhttp://gigaom.com/2013/01/10/skifta-ios-app/
http://gigaom.com/2013/01/10/skifta-ios-app/#commentsThu, 10 Jan 2013 09:15:15 +0000http://gigaom.com/?p=600601Qualcomm Atheros (s QCOM) just released an iOS (s AAPL) version of its home media shifting app Skifta, making it possible to stream media from an iOS device to any DLNA receiver. Skifta was previously only available on Android,(s GOOG) and the new release combines the app’s DLNA chops with Apple’s AirPlay protocol.

The new iOS app, which comes both with an iPhone and an iPad UI, mirrors the look and feel of Skifta’s Android app. It can be used to stream content from sources like a network-attached storage drive to an iPad or to stream content from the iPad to an AirPlay or DLNA-capable stereo or TV set. Skifta also offers access to a number of online channels that pull in content from services like Soundcloud, Rdio or Flickr.(s YHOO)

Having the ability to stream music or video from an iPad to a DLNA-capable TV set is already pretty neat, but Skifta wants to make many more devices available to both iOS and Android users over the coming months. Skifta recently struck a partnership with ODM speaker maker Tymphany to bring its audio module to soundbars and networked wireless speakers.

That fits right in with the bigger vision behind Skifta: Qualcomm Atheros has long viewed Skifta as a way to promote larger initiatives around the connected house. Skifta Director of Product Marketing Gary Brotman told me during a conversation at CES earlier this week that he envisions Skifta-enabled devices will eventually not just play media, but also receive audio notifications from other devices around the house. Your soundbar may stop playing your music and alert you if your washing machine malfunctions, or if someone is at the door, he said.

Here are a few screenshots of the app:

]]>http://gigaom.com/2013/01/10/skifta-ios-app/feed/4Qualcomm’s plan to win the battle for the digital homehttp://gigaom.com/2012/06/05/qualcomms-atheros-skifta-engine/
Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:11:59 +0000http://gigaom.com/?p=528725Qualcomm Atheros (s QCOM) announced a software solution that adds DLNA, in-home media shifting and Internet content streaming to routers, set-top boxes and other types of gateway devices at the Computex trade show in Taiwan Tuesday. The Java-based solution, dubbed Skifta Engine, is the company’s next step to take on Apple (s AAPL) and others in the fight for the digital home.

The Skifta Engine is DLNA-compatible, meaning that it will allow users of Skifta-powered devices to stream music, videos and other types of media straight from their router to their Xbox or PS3. (s SNE) Additional functionality is available in conjunction with the Skifta Android (s GOOG) app: Skifta offers users a way to stream home media to their Android device on the go, and also makes it possible to access a number of Internet content channels, including Facebook, TED Talks and Revision3.

Qualcomm Atheros originally released its Skifta Android app in late 2010 to prove a demand for media shifting in the living room. Eighteen months in, Skifta has an active install base of 700,000, and the Qualcomm subsidiary is setting its sights on something bigger: the digital home.

Qualcomm Atheros Director of Product Marketing for the Networking Business Unit Gary Brotman told me during a phone conversation last week that Skifta Engine is a key part in this strategy, because it takes the computer out of the equation. Users don’t need to leave their home PC up and running anymore to access their home video on the go because the router and other always-on devices do all the heavy lifting. “You start to look at the gateway as the smarts for the home,” Brotman said. Media sharing and shifting is really just a first killer app to get people familiar with the technology, he told me. In other words: Get in people’s living room first, and you’ll have easy access to the rest of the house.

Skifta Engine won’t run on low-end routers that sell for $50 or less. Instead, it’s aimed towards higher-end devices, which are increasingly looking like a platform. Brotman told me that a number of device manufacturers are working on their own app stores for home gateway devices; and Skifta Engine could soon arrive as a download on one of those platforms. Some consumers will have access to Skifta on their routers before the end of summer, Brotman predicted.

Of course, Qualcomm Atheros isn’t alone in its quest to bring media shifting to the digital home. A number of companies already utilize DLNA. Samsung, for example, is using the technology as the basis for its own AllShare media sharing solution. Then there is Apple and its Airplay protocol, and just this week, Microsoft (s MSFT) threw its own hat in the ring with its new SmartGlass second screen gaming and media sharing technology. Brotman told me that the key to compete in this race will be to use widely available standards and make its own technology available for licensing. “What consumers don’t need is another walled garden,” he said.

]]>Cord Cutters: Plex adds DLNA supporthttp://gigaom.com/2012/03/01/plex-dlna-ps3/
http://gigaom.com/2012/03/01/plex-dlna-ps3/#commentsThu, 01 Mar 2012 19:46:22 +0000http://gigaom.com/?p=492387Media center startup Plex is adding support for DLNA-compliant devices to its software, making it possible to stream videos directly to a Sony(s SNE) PS3, a WD(s WDC) TV device or a connected TV. Check out our exclusive preview of this new feature, slated to launch in the next few weeks, in the latest episode of Cord Cutters:

Browse the show archive for a complete list of episodes, and subscribe to the Cord Cutterspodcast RSS feed so you don’t miss any future episode.

Show notes for this episode:

Plex is media center software that offers access to both local and online media. It can be downloaded for free on the Plex website.

DLNA stands for “Digital Living Network Alliance” and is basically a way to move media around your home network. The DLNA standard is supported by Sony’s PS3 and WD TV devices as well as numerous connected TVs from manufacturers like LG, Panasonic, Toshiba and others. The DLNA alliance website has a detailed database with all the supported devices.

Plex’s server software with DLNA support is slated to be released within the next few weeks. Check their Twitter feed for updates.

Are you a Plex user? Or are you using a different DLNA server? Please share your thoughts in the comments, get in touch with us on Twitter (@cordcutters) or email us at cordcutters@gigaom.com.

]]>http://gigaom.com/2012/03/01/plex-dlna-ps3/feed/10Broadcom Brings Hulu to Any Connected TVhttp://gigaom.com/2010/08/11/broadcom-brings-hulu-to-any-connected-tv/
http://gigaom.com/2010/08/11/broadcom-brings-hulu-to-any-connected-tv/#commentsWed, 11 Aug 2010 19:00:36 +0000http://newteevee.com/?p=54243Consumers will soon be able to stream Hulu, YouTube (s GOOG) or Netflix (s NFLX) videos to any connected TV, regardless of whether that device supports Flash (s adbe) or not, thanks to some new technology by Broadcom (s BRCM), dubbed Inconcert Maestro, that combines existing and emerging home networking technologies with software installed on your PC. Broadcom first announced Maestro at CES earlier this year, and has since been working on adding new features.

Broadcom’s senior product manager Vijay Najarajan came to San Francisco yesterday to show off some of these capabilities for the first time in the U.S., and I must say, the demo was pretty impressive, if only for the fact that the whole idea behind Maestro is convincingly simple.

Check out the video embedded above for all the details, but the gist is this: Users have to install a piece of software on their computer that receives and transcodes Internet video. The computer then sends out these video streams via Wi-Fi Direct, an emerging P2P networking standard that enables Wi-Fi devices to directly talk to each other without the help of any access point. Any DLNA-certified device can then receive and display those streams.

This makes it possible to play both free and paid Hulu content on devices that aren’t officially supporting Hulu Plus. How is Hulu going to react to this? We should soon be able to find out: Najarajan told me that the first devices making use of the Inconcert Maestro should reach stores in time for the holiday season.

]]>http://gigaom.com/2010/08/11/broadcom-brings-hulu-to-any-connected-tv/feed/10Why We May Never Reach Home Network Nirvanahttp://gigaom.com/report/why-we-may-never-reach-home-network-nirvana/
http://gigaom.com/report/why-we-may-never-reach-home-network-nirvana/#respondTue, 08 Sep 2009 20:00:12 +0000http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=12063Wi-Fi home networks are no longer the sole domain of the tech-savvy, while more and more non-PC devices — be they game consoles or iPod touches — are connecting to the network. But while the home network has, in fact, evolved, we’re not anywhere near that utopian vision of the digital home. As any of us who have a home network can attest, half the time it feels like it’s hanging together with Band-Aids and silly putty, a temperamental creation in which devices can’t connect, the router needs rebooting, and if we’re lucky enough to make video streaming from the PC to the TV work, chances are it won’t tomorrow. In short, for all the advances of the home network, the transition to the full-fledged, seamlessly connected media network remains a distant vision. So what’s the deal? Why is the reality of the digital home so hard to achieve?
]]>http://gigaom.com/report/why-we-may-never-reach-home-network-nirvana/feed/0Why We May Never Reach Home Network Nirvanahttp://gigaom.com/2009/09/08/why-we-may-never-reach-home-network-nirvana/
Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:00:12 +0000http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=12063Last week’s news about Netgear’s new streaming media box for Internet video to the TV has me reflecting on the state of the home network. It seems like only yesterday that we in the tech industry started talking about the vision of the digital home, an almost mythical place where one day consumers could connect any device to another over the home network seamlessly to send content to and fro.

In a lot of ways, we’ve inched closer to that vision. Wi-Fi home networks are no longer the sole domain of the tech-savvy, while more and more non-PC devices — be they game consoles or iPod touches — are connecting to the network. But while the home network has, in fact, evolved, we’re not anywhere near that utopian vision of the digital home. As any of us who have a home network can attest, half the time it feels like it’s hanging together with Band-Aids and silly putty, a temperamental creation in which devices can’t connect, the router needs rebooting, and if we’re lucky enough to make video streaming from the PC to the TV work, chances are it won’t tomorrow. In short, for all the advances of the home network, the transition to the full-fledged, seamlessly connected media network remains a distant vision.

So what’s the deal? Why is the reality of the digital home so hard to achieve? Here are four reasons why home network nirvana remains so elusive:

Too Many Standards
For every UPnP, MoCA and DLNA, there’s a Jini, Havi or CableHome. In the past 10 years, I’ve probably been briefed on 100 different standards for the digital home, most of which didn’t make it or are on life support. Some which seem necessary — like the RVU Alliance — never get mentioned, while others, such as Wireless HD, get lots of attention but never seem to actually reach the homes of anyone you or I know.

We Live in a Multi-Vendor, Multi-Device World
One of the easiest ways to get on a home network is to simply buy all Apple products. From connecting an Airport to hitting the Airtunes button on your Mac, it’s almost incredible how Apple makes it easy. But the reality is we live in a multi-vendor world, and as easy as an all OS X world is, it’s not the reality. Device and vendor diversity have made achieving the home network vision difficult.

Fast Starts and Disillusionment
If there have been 100 standards for home networks, there have been 1,000 startups and product launches that have been abandoned in the digital home. Whether it’s home automation giant AMX going through a midlife crisis in 2000 and changing its name to Panja (and back to AMX a year later), or Intel and its much-maligned Viiv push, most companies’ rocket-launched digital home pushes flame out in disillusionment. These efforts, followed by abandonment by big players, create confusion among the consumer.

No Dominant Device
Other than the gateway, no device has become a dominant fixture in the home network. While the industry has attempted to launch entirely new device categories in digital media adapters and media servers, the consumer has so far said no to these. What is happening instead is existing devices are evolving — slowly — to become a part of the home network.